UN: UN Security Council extends mandate of AU mission in Somalia

New York, US (APAN) - The UN Security Council on Thursday extended the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to 31 May 2017, and mandated the mission to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups in the country.

PANA in New York reports that, in a unanimously adopted resolution which maintained AMISOM’s troop deployment "up to a maximum level of 22,126", the Security Council urged the mission to also facilitate the Somali political process at all levels, as well as enabling stabilization efforts, reconciliation and peace building in the Horn of Africa country by providing security for the Somali people.

It said that the AU-led mission should work towards the gradual handing over of security responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali security forces contingent on abilities of the Somali security forces.

Among the "essential tasks" authorized by the Council, AMISOM is to engage with communities in the country’s recovered areas and promoting understanding between AMISOM and local populations, to allow for longer term stabilization by the UN Country Team and other actors.

It also mandated the AU mission as a matter of priority to secure key supply routes, including to areas recovered from Al-Shabaab, in particular those essential to improving the humanitarian situation, and those critical for AMISOM’s logistical support.

It stressed the importance of AMISOM forces carrying out their mandate in full compliance with their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law, and cooperating with the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) in implementing the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy on UN support to Non-UN Security Forces (HRDDP).

The Council called on the AU to investigate and report allegations of violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, as well as continuing to ensure the highest standards of transparency, and conduct and discipline.
-0- PANA AA/AR 7July2016